Shrimp Recipes for the Everyday Menu

By Allan Stearman

Do you think cooking shrimp recipes is only for the elite, trained chef? If you are overwhelmed with the thought, become familiar with the basics to open a new world.

A shrimp scampi recipe can pop out of your microwave in little time, and a grilled shrimp recipe can bring you praise from an appreciative family. Grilled shrimp recipes can make way for a shrimp pasta recipe the following week, as you get comfortable with the primary ingredient in shrimp recipes, the shellfish know as shrimp.

To visualize what you want to serve, consider the large range of sizes of shrimp that are on the market, each suitable for specific recipes. Bay or popcorn shrimp are used for accents whereas the colossal tiger shrimp is the star of any plate. Shrimp cocktail usually features large shrimp and medium shrimp fit perfectly on top of a bed of pasta.

When shopping for shrimp and price is a consideration, you will find that larger shrimp cost more per pound. Across the spectrum, fresh shrimp should be firm, moist, with clear flesh, and devoid of any ammonia odor or black spots on the shell. If your shrimp recipes call for 1 pound of shrimp, you will need 1 pounds of shrimp in the shell.

If you are fortunate enough to be near water and the source of locally sold shrimp, the quality of your cooking is going to increase immensely. Today most of the shrimp on the market has been frozen. If your shrimp is frozen when purchased, be sure that it is solidly frozen and examine the pack for any signs of freezer burn, which negatively affects quality and flavor. Then leave the shrimp in the refrigerator overnight to thaw, or place under cold running water. If you are buying shrimp previously frozen but thawed, the flesh should remain firm and shiny.

If you are in a big hurry, then you can find less flavorful preprocessed shrimp. Learn how to quickly peel and devein unprocessed shrimp with these easy directions for peeling each shrimp.

Using a small paring knife, make a light slit down the back from the head end to the tail. A black sand vein is frequently present in the center of the back. With the knife tip, you can remove it and then rinse the shrimp in running cold water. At this point, it is easy to cut the shrimp in half by placing the front on a cutting board and then cutting the shrimp lengthwise. Make every effort to keep the prepared shrimp at the same temperature to ensure even results when cooking.

If you are not excited yet, then once you boil, bake, steam, saut, or broil your batch of seasoned shrimp, you will be. Especially when your weeknight audience cheers when served this classy fare. To be certain of success, never overcook the shrimp, which makes it tough. Be ready for applause and roses. - 31843

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